Method and apparatus for dispensing merchandise bags

ABSTRACT

A method and device for dispensing .[.T-shirt type.]. plastic .Iadd.merchandise .Iaddend.bags from a roll joined end to end in series but separable along perforated lines where the bag ends are connected, whereby the bags are rolled and the roll of bags is placed in a cradle for unrolling and passing between two bars above and parallel to the axis of the roll, at least one of the bars having a centrally disposed hooking snagging element past which the series of bags is drawn. When the open space between .[.the straps of each T-shirt bag.]. .Iadd.adjacent bags .Iaddend.passes the snagging element, the latter catches the leading edge of the ensuing bag to restrain it sufficiently so that further pulling on the preceding bag results in its detachment along the perforated line for the ensuing bag. .[.Rack means are.]. .Iadd.A rack is .Iaddend.provided to enable the method to be practiced.

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/871,857, filedApr. 21, 1992, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of plastic shopping bags withparticular application to what are known as "T-shirt style merchandisingbags" which are formed in series, but are detachable from each otherupon the application of a certain degree of force. Bags of this natureare usually not produced in rolls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, plastic merchandise bags have largely supplanted paperbags in retail stores. Among the reasons for this development are thefact that plastic bags are cheaper, easier to handle, to ship and tostore (particularly when they are provided in roll form); and that theyare more easily recycled and may be readily provided in any of severaldesired sizes.

Among the more popular types of plastic bags are what have been termed"T-shirt" style merchandising bags. Heretofore, in the United Statesretailers have encountered problems, however, in removing plastic bagsfrom rolls at cashier's or other merchandise packing stations, and doingso in an ergonomically and economically efficient manner. Among theproblems encountered have been the disposition of the rolls under thecounter, and the unrolling and detachment of bags from the rolls andtheir opening. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,539 and 4,930,385,the bags are rolled up in such a manner that when the bags are unrolled,the bag bottoms appear first. This requires the person utilizing the bagthen to invert the bag to open it in order to place the merchandise tobe packed within the bag. The bags also may be difficult to pull throughthe nozzles disclosed in the patents, and when finally pulled throughthe nozzle, the bags are so wrinkled as to be unsightly, and hence, notappreciated by the store's customers, or the store's checker who has toopen them for loading.

In addition, the nozzles may not function properly all of the time. Thebag being pulled out may not detach from succeeding bags so that thepacker has to cope with more than one bag. It is also possible for anensuing bag to drop back through the nozzle which then requiresre-loading up through the nozzle.

Another objection to the nozzle system disclosed in the patentsmentioned above is that the counter must be bored to provide holes largeenough to enable the nozzles to be inserted and secured in the counter.This may require special boring equipment and skill. Such holes alsoruin the counter for other uses, should the nozzles later be removed andthe patented system abandoned. In addition, holes and nozzles in thecounters decrease the usable counter space and may interrupt the flow ofarticles across the counter at the cashier's station.

Further, loading the rolls under the counter and threading the firstbags through the nozzles as shown in these patents, would appear torequire some type of kneeling operation--one which might not beappreciated by older or handicapped clerks, or women with nylonstockings.

Following applicant's invention, applicant has been informed that inEurope, as shown in at least one Scandinavian advertisement, smallT-shirt type bags connected in series have been dispensed, straps first,from a roll in a housing having slotting, the center of which isconstricted by opposed V-shaped flat members, the function of which,applicant understands, has been to snag ensuing bags as they are pulledthrough the housing slotting. This arrangement, however, has not lentitself to loading from behind the counter, as well as convenientlywithdrawing and opening the bags. Nor has it been adopted nor suited formultiple sizes of plastic bags. With this arrangement, it is possible topull multiple undetached bags through the U-shaped flat members withoutsnagging them by pulling the first bag at an incorrect angle. The sizeof the housing restricts the number of bags on the roll to a relativelysmall amount. The bags can only be side-loaded as the arrangement doesnot permit either front or top loading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus by which aroll of .[.T-shirt style.]. merchandise bags may easily be loaded into arack either above or below the counter of the cashier or other personpacking the merchandise and the first bag threaded between a pair ofbars disposed, ideally, at about the height of the clerk's waist, or atany other suitable height. The bags are rolled up bottom first so thatthey unroll with their T-straps appearing in the lead. The rack providesmeans for enabling bags from the roll to be withdrawn; and, as each bagis so withdrawn, the inner edge between the T-straps of the ensuing bagis snagged and temporarily restrained sufficiently to result indetachment of the preceding bag from the leading edges of the straps ofthe bag thus temporarily restrained, when continued pulling is exertedupon the preceding bag.

In this system and by this method, the cashier or packer receives thebag in a top-up, bottom-seal-down position so that it may immediately beopened for the merchandise to be placed within it.

The method and system may be accomplished by means of a novel rack whichmay be secured above or below the counter. In one embodiment of thisinvention, this rack includes a cradle which may be front loaded frombehind the counter and a pair of transverse spaced-apart guide barsabove the cradle through which the leading edges of the initial bag inthe roll are to be drawn. To accomplish the desired snagging in variousembodiments of the invention, the bars are provided centrally with apair of opposed overlapping (preferably U-shaped) elements which arebent oppositely and spaced apart from each other sufficiently to allowthe bags to be pulled between them. These elements serve to snag andtemporarily restrain the inner edge between the T-straps of each bagwhich follows the bag being withdrawn through the pair of transverseguide bars. By such restraint, the ensuing bag is held sufficiently toenable the bottom of the preceding bag, by continued pulling, to bedetached from the leading edges of the straps of the restrained bag,along the perforations joining such edges to the bottom of the precedingbag.

In another embodiment of the invention, the snagging may be accomplishedby providing a single element on one of the two spaced-apart guide bars,such element being constructed to catch and temporarily hold the leadingedge of each bag between the straps as such straps are pulled throughthe bars.

The system of the invention may actually comprise pulling with one handthe bags from a roll one at a time by either strapped top ends over anytype of guiding edge, such as the rim of a box, and snagging the edgeportion of each bag between the straps by using the other hand.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cradle may be stationary, whilein a further embodiment of the invention, the cradle may be forwardlytiltable to facilitate the front loading of the roll from behind thecheckout counter. In both embodiments, however, a method of theinvention involves bringing the strap ends of the bag through thespacing between a pair of transverse guide bars and the spacing betweenthe centrally disposed opposed overlapping elements, or other snaggingelement. Each bag of the roll is then removed by simply pulling thecenter of the bag or the bag strap ends which protrude between thetransverse guide bars, thereby causing the bag roll to rotate in itscradle and to allow unrolling of the bag which is being grasped andpulled. It will be followed by the attached ensuing bag until the inneredge between the T-straps of the succeeding bag is temporarily snaggedby the overlapping elements or other snagging element, thereby providingsufficient temporary resistance to further unrolling of the succeedingbag to result in the detachment of the bottom of the bag which is beingpulled along the perforated connections from the leading edges of thestraps of the succeeding and temporarily restrained bag. When the nextbag is to be withdrawn from the roll, the checker or packer at thecounter simply slides the restrained edge out of the opposed overlappingelements or other snagging element and pulls the bag again through thoseelements and the spaced apart transverse guide bars to repeat theprocess.

In a still further embodiment of the invention two parallel cradles maybe provided, one to carry a roll of bags of one size and the second, aroll of bags of a different size. In this embodiment, the cradles may bedisposed one behind the other with the paths of the bags being parallelbut separated from each other by a guide member over which the bags ofone roll are drawn before moving forward to a rack having a pair oftransverse bars each with a snagging element similar to that describedabove for the single roll embodiment. The guide member may either beintegrated into the rack itself or it may be separately mounted to theunderside of the counter. Preferably, the cradle for the roll of smallersize bags should be disposed to the rear of the cradle for the largersized bags so that the latter bags will be below the smaller bags forgrasping by the clerk or cashier at the counter. Thereby, the clerk orcashier may see the availability of both bags. Should the larger bagscome out above the smaller bags, the latter may not be readily visibleto the clerk or cashier.

It will be found that the method and apparatus of the present inventionprovide a most convenient system for a checker behind a counter toremove bags from a roll. Moreover, as the bags are detached into thehands of the checker they are ready to be opened, thereby enabling thechecker conveniently to deposit the customer's merchandise in the bag,the straps of which may or may not then be tied in a knot and the baghanded to a customer. In addition, the bags when presented to thecustomer will be in an unwrinkled condition.

While it is preferred that the bag roll be wound so that the bags unrollwith the bag straps appearing first, the method and apparatus of thepresent invention may be adapted to dispense bags which are rolled sothat the bag bottoms appear first. Bags so rolled will be found also tobe snagged for separation, but at their bottoms instead of at thetransverse portion defining the cut-out.

The rolling up of the bags and the snagging system herein discussed may,however, have many other applications apart from retail stores.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the rack showing themanner in which a roll of bags may be deposited in the cradle.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged section taken on the lines 1A/1A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the same type of rack shown inFIG. 1, showing the rack loaded with the initial bag in position forgrasping and pulling by the checker.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, butshowing the first bag being removed and detached from the ensuing bag.

FIG. 4 is a still further perspective view similar to the views of FIGS.1 through 3 of the rack, but showing the ensuing bag now ready forremoval.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a different cradle and guide bararrangement, in which the cradle and guide bar arrangements areseparated entities.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate upper portion snaggingmechanism of the radii of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the method as practiced manually.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention in whichtwo rolls of bags are brought up for dispensation.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partial view of the guide member shown in FIG. 9 in analternate form.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate method of dispensing the bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, the method of thepresent invention may be practiced by providing a rack 10 formed of apair of vertical wire rectangles 12a and 12b spaced apart from eachother by the width of a roll 14 of T-shirt type bags 16, 16', etc. Thebottom edge 18 of each bag 16, 16', etc. is perforatedly secured to theleading edges 20' of the straps 22' of the next succeeding bag 16', etc.so that upon the application of any pulling force along the bottom edge18, when movement of the straps 22' is restrained, will result indetachment of the bag 16 from the ensuing bag 16', and similarly, in thecase of bag 16' with the bag that next follows it in the roll 14.

The two Wire rectangles 12a and 12b may be secured oppositely inparallel alignment by transverse base members 24, 26 and a pair ofU-shaped guide bars 28 and 30 spaced apart from each other. Centrallydisposed on each of the U-shaped elements 28 and 30 is a forwardlyprojecting bent U-shaped element 32, 34, respectively, shown inenlargement in the sectional view FIG. 1A. Element 32 is slightlyshorter than element 34 and is bent at a 90 degree angle to provide avertical segment 32a. While element 34 is bent vertically in an oppositeand downward direction to provide a segment 34a which overlaps slightlythe transverse segment 32b of the element 32, thereby leaving a space 36between 32a and 32b, and 34a and 34b.

While the overlapping elements 32 and 34 are thus described in thisspecific configuration, as the preferred embodiment, it is not necessarythat they be U-shaped as so shown, but the overlapping element could bein other configurations which would temporarily arrest the passage ofthe bag by catching its leading edge 17.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, a swinging cradle 38 is providedto receive the roll 14. This cradle may be formed of a U-shaped member40 having looped ends 42, 42a, 24b, which may be wrapped around the endsof the transverse member 24. A pair of curved elements 44a and 44bterminating in transverse members 46 and 48 may be secured at 50a and50b to the transverse portion 40a of the U-shaped member 40. Upper andlower orificed mounting plates 52, 54, respectively, may be secured tothe upper and lower transverse portions of the rectangular frame members12a and 12b.

A pair of hooked elements 56a and 56b may be secured to the verticalportions 58a, 58a' and 58b and 58b', respectively, of the rectangularelements 12a and 12b.

In practicing the method in the system of the present invention, thebags 16, 16', etc., which are formed in an interconnected series, arefirst rolled, commencing with the bottom of the first bag and endingwith the straps 22 of the last bag. With the cradle swung out in theposition shown in FIG. 1, the roll 14 is laid into the cradle, which isthen swung back and hooked as shown in FIG. 2. The leading strap edges20, together with the leading transverse intermediate edge 17 of thefirst bag is brought through the spacing between the U-shaped transverseguide bars 28 and 30 and the spacing 36 between the bent U-shapedelements 32 and 34 to the position shown in FIG. 4. With the initial bag16 so positioned, the person at the checkout counter may remove a bag topack a customer's purchase by withdrawing the bag 16 in the directioninitially as shown in FIG. 2 to where the initial bag 16 is withdrawnfrom the rack, and the transverse portion 17 of the ensuing bag isbrought into the spacing 36 between the elements 32 and 34, at whichpoint further passage of the second bag 16' will temporarily berestrained. Further pulling On the first bag 16 will result indetachment of the bag 16 from the leading edges 20' of the straps 22' ofthe bag 16'. The bag 16 may then be filled by the person at the checkoutcounter. In the meantime, the straps 22' and the transverse portion 17'of the next bag will drop down into the position shown in FIG. 4, inwhich position, the person at the checkout counter may now grasp theleading edge 17' or any other part of the bag 16' and commence pullingthe bag 16' forward in the manner shown in FIG. 2--unrestrained by theU-shaped elements 32 and 34. The process may be repeated until all ofthe bags from the roll 14 have been utilized, whereupon a new roll ofbags should be provided in the cradle 38 after it is unhooked and swungforward to the position shown in FIG. 1.

While the roll 14 is shown in FIGS. 1-5 as unrolling from the back side,it could also be unrolled oppositely from the front.

The method described may also be practiced with a different type ofcradle and guide bar arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 5. In theembodiment of this latter figure, a different type of cradle 38' may beprovided. The cradle 38' may be constructed of a U-shaped plate 60 whichmay be permanently secured to shelving below the counter. This plate 60,in the embodiment of FIG. 5, is shown with a pair of bent wirereceptacles 62 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the plate 60.The cradle 38' is left open so that it may be loaded from the top underor above the counter with a roll 14'. To practice the method, however, adifferent type of transverse guide bars 10' may be provided for mountingunder or over the counter or against the edge of the counter. Thistransverse guide bar may be in the form of a plate 64, to which issecured the ends 66a, 66b of a U-shaped member 66. Having a secondtransverse piece spaced inwardly from the transverse segment 66' of themember 66. In this second rack embodiment, opposed U-shaped elements 32'and 34' are provided similarly to the members 32 and 34 of the FIGS. 1-4embodiment.

It will be appreciated that with the cradle 38' and rack 10', bags 16,16', etc. may be drawn from the roll in essentially the same manner andby the same method as that which has been described in connection withthe FIGS. 1-4 inclusive embodiment.

While it is preferred to support the roll by a cradle, such as thosewhich have been described heretofore, it will also be understood thatthe manner in which the roll is supported for unrolling, is not acritical feature of the present invention so long as the supportdisposes the roll about an axis which is substantially parallel to thebars 28 and 30. Thus, the support could be in the form of the box 70shown in FIG. 7 or it could be a spindle, not shown, passed through thecenter of the roll 14 and supported at one or both ends in the mannercommonly found for paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, etc. The term"cradle" or "cradle means" should be understood to encompass such meansfor dispensing the roll parallel to the bars 28 and 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a single snagging element 34' is providedin lieu of the overlapping U-shaped elements 32, 34 of the embodimentsof FIGS. 1-5. When the bags 16 (not shown) are drawn between the bars28', 30' in the direction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be found thatthe snagging element 34' will temporarily snag the leading edge 17' ofthe ensuing bag 16' so that the preceding bag 16 will be detached fromthe edges 20 of the straps 22' upon the application of further pullingforce, just as in the case of the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates how the method of the present invention may bepracticed manually without any cradle and rack of the FIGS. 1-6embodiments. Thus, in FIG. 7, the roll 14' of bags 16' formed, asheretofore explained, is simply laid in a box 70 having a straight edge72, parallel to the roll axis. The bags 16' are then drawn out of box 70over the straight edge 72 with one hand (not shown) while the person'sother hand 74 is held adjacent the straight edge 72 to catch andtemporarily restrain forward movement of the leading edge 17" of theensuing bag 16", with the result that the trailing bottom edge 21 willdetach from the leading edges 20" of the straps 22".

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the manner in which the method of the presentinvention may be utilized to dispense bags from two rolls. In thisembodiment, a U-shaped member 66a is mounted on a plate 64a similar towhat is shown in FIG. 5. However, the member 66a is provided with asecond pair of bars 28a, 30a with a single snagging element similar to34' shown in FIG. 6. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, there is alsosecured to the member 66a a U-shaped guide piece 76, the function ofwhich is to keep the path of the plastic bags of the second rollsubstantially parallel to the bags of the first roll as the bags move upand between the bars 28a and 30a for interception by the snaggingelement 34a. In this embodiment of the rack, the clerk at the countermay have available for dispensing two different size bags as shown inFIG. 8. FIG. 10 represents a modification of the arrangement shown inFIGS. 8 and 9 to the extent of eliminating the U-shaped guide 76 fromthe member 66a. Instead, a U-shaped member 78 is mounted at both of itsends to a plate so screwed to the counter, to produce a result identicalto that accomplished by the guide piece shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In FIG. 11, the rack 10a is substantially identical to the rack 10 shownin the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment, but instead of the bags being brought upfrom the roll straps first, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the bags aredelivered to and through the bars 28 and 30 bottom first since that isthe manner in which the bags are rolled. The rack and the system,however, are still effective since the snagging element 34 effectivelyrestrains the bottom of the bag which represents the trailing edgedefining the open space 82 between each of the series of bags coming offthe roll. In this instance, the leading edge 17' defining the space 82corresponds with the leading transverse intermediate edge 17 shown inFIG. 2.

Thus, it will be seen that, irrespective of the manner in which the bagshave been rolled, the rack of the present invention is effective toenable the method to be practice.

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that the method of the presentinvention may be practiced in several ways, although doing so with oneof the types of racks illustrated and described herein should be foundto be more convenient and practicable.

I claim:
 1. A method of dispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plasticshopping bags detachably joined together in a series, at a cashier's orother packer's station, each bag being formed by a pair of facingpanels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides terminating attheir upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from each other, eachstrap having a transverse closed upper edge, a transverse open topextending between the straps below their upper edges, and the first bagbeing detachably joined to the next ensuing bag at the bottom of thefirst bag by the upper edges of the top straps of the next ensuing bag,and the subsequent bags in the series each being detachably joined toits preceding bag by the upper edges of its top straps to the bottom ofits preceding bag; said method comprising:(a) rolling up said series ofbags concentrically about a first axis starting with the bottom of theinitial bag of the series to form a roll of said series of bags, saidroll having the pair of top straps of the outermost bag of the roll asthe starting portion of the roll; (b) providing a support for the rollfrom which support bags may be serially unrolled upwardly and detached;(c) providing a pair of bars spaced slightly apart from each other onebar above the other, said bars being parallel to the roll axis anddisposed above and in line with the roll to establish a first directionof travel for the series of bags between the roll and spacing betweenthe bars, at least one of said bars being provided with a snaggingelement transverse to said first direction of travel of the series ofbags, said snagging element, however, permitting passage of the panelportions of each bag past said snagging element in the first direction,but snagging the transverse open top of each bag when pulled in saidfirst direction by releasing said open top only when it is drawn betweenthe bars in a second direction transverse to the first direction; (d)grasping the leading portion of the outermost bag and pulling theoutermost bag through the spacing between the bars and the snaggingelement in the first direction until the transverse open top of the nextensuing bag reaches the snagging element, whereupon further passage ofsaid ensuing bag will be initially restrained; (e) further pulling theoutermost bag against such restraint, thereby detaching the bottom ofthe outermost bag from the top edges of the straps of said ensuing bag;and (f) pulling the transverse open top of the said ensuing bag first inthe second direction past the snagging element and then, in the firstdirection until the open top of the second ensuing bag is snagged by thesnagging element, for a repetition of the previous steps.
 2. A method ofdispensing bags separately from a plurality of T-shirt plastic shoppingbags detachably joined together in a series, at a cashier's or otherpacker's station, each bag being formed by a pair of facing panels,joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides terminating at their upperends in a pair of top straps spaced from each other, each strap having atransverse closed upper edge, a transverse open top extending betweenthe straps below their upper edges, and each bag being detachably joinedby perforations to an ensuing similar bag, the ensuing bag beingattached to the preceding bag at the bottom of the preceding bag by theupper edges of the top straps of the ensuing bag; said methodcomprising:(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about afirst axis starting with the bottom of the initial bag of the series toform a roll of said series of bags, said roll having the pair of topstraps of the outermost bag of the roll as the outer starting portion ofthe roll; (b) providing a support for the roll from which support bagsmay be serially unrolled upwardly and detached; (c) providing a guidemember parallel to said first axis in the vicinity of said rolls; (d)pulling the outermost bag in the roll in a first direction between theroll and past said member; (e) snagging the transverse open top of theensuing bag as it passes said member temporarily to restrain the ensuingbag; (f) continuing to pull the outward bag against said restraintthereby to detach the portion of the outward bag from the top straps ofensuing bag along the perforations; (g) unsnagging the transverse opentop of the ensuing bag and pulling it past the guide member until thetransverse open top of the next ensuing bag is snagged, to repeat theprocess.
 3. A method of dispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plasticshopping bags detachably joined together in a series, at a cashier's orother packer's station, each bag being formed by a pair of facingpanels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides terminating attheir upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from each other, eachstrap having a transverse closed upper edge, a transverse open topextending between the straps below their upper edges, and each bag beingdetachably joined by perforations to an ensuing similar bag, the ensuingbag being attached to the preceding bag at the bottom of the precedingbag by the upper edges of the top straps of the ensuing bag, and eachsubsequent bag being detachably joined to its preceding bag by the upperedges of its top straps to the bottom of the preceding bag; said methodcomprising:(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about afirst axis starting with the bottom of the initial bag of the series toform a roll of said series of bags, said roll having the pair of topstraps of the outermost bag of the roll as the outer starting portion ofthe roll; (b) providing a support for the roll from which support bagsmay be serially unrolled and detached; (c) providing a pair of barsspaced slightly apart from each other one bar above the other, said barsbeing parallel to the roll axis and disposed in line with the roll, theupper bar having extended from its center section, a first elementhaving an angular bend downwardly and the lower bar having extended fromits center section a second element having an angular bend upwardly,said first and second elements being overlappingly spaced apart fromeach other; (d) passing the pair of top straps of the outermost bag ofthe roll through the spacing between the bags and drawing the transverseintermediate open top of the bag through the overlapping spacing betweenthe said first and second elements; (e) pulling the outermost bagthrough said spacing between the bars until the transverse open top ofthe next bag on the series reaches the spacing between the first andsecond overlapping elements, whereupon further passage of the next bagwill be initially restrained; and (f) further pulling the initial bagagainst such restraint, thereby to detach the pulled bag from the nextbag in the series.
 4. Rack means for dispensing separately from a rollof a series of T-shirt type plastic bags, said series of bags of saidroll being disposed concentrically about a first axis starting with thebottom of the initial bag of the series, whereby the outermost portionof said roll comprises the pair of top straps of the outermost bag ofthe roll, and the leading portion of each ensuing bag comprises the topstraps of said ensuing bag, whereby each bag may be grasped and pulledby its transverse open top for detachment from the next ensuing bag whenthe ensuing bag is sufficiently restrained from movement following thepreceding bag; said rack means comprising:(a) cradle means securable inthe vicinity of a checkout counter, said cradle means being adapted toreceive and permit rotation of said roll so that the bags on said rollmay be unrolled about said first axis; (b) a pair of bars disposedparallel to said first axis, said bars being spaced apart from eachother, and both bars being spaced, from but aligned with, said roll anddisposed in such a manner that a bag being unrolled from said roll maybe passed through the spacing between the bars, the first of said pairof bars being disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, atleast one of said first and second bars having extending from itscentral area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag maybe passed between the spacing between said bars and past said snaggingelement until the transverse open top of the ensuing bag is interceptedby the snagging element and temporarily restrained, thereby, continuedpulling of the preceding bag, results in detachment of the bottom of thepreceding bag from the top straps of the ensuing bag.
 5. A method ofdispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plastic shopping bags detachablyjoined together in a series, at a cashier's or other packer's station,each bag being formed by a pair of facing panels, joined at theirbottoms and sides, the sides terminating at their upper ends in a pairof top straps spaced from each other, each strap having a transverseclosed upper edge, a transverse open top extending between the strapsbelow their upper edges, each bag being detachably joined to twoadjacent bags at its opposite ends so that at one end the joinder is bythe upper edges of its bag straps, and at the other end, the bag bottomis joined to the upper edges of the straps of an adjacent bag, and ateach joinder is an open space defined by a portion of a bag bottom andthe inner edges of the straps and the transverse open top of theadjoining bag; said method comprising:(a) rolling up said series of bagsconcentrically about a first axis whereby when said bags are unrolledeach open space between adjacent bags will appear partially defined by aleading transverse edge and a trailing transverse edge; (b) providing asupport for the roll from which support bags may be serially unrolledupwardly and detached; (c) providing a pair of bags spaced slightlyapart from each other one bar above the other, said bars being parallelto the roll axis and disposed above and in line with the roll toestablish a first direction of travel for the series of bags between theroll and spacing between the bars, at least one of said bars beingprovided with a snagging element transverse to said first direction oftravel of the series of bags, said snagging element, however, permittingpassage of the panel portions of each bag past said snagging element inthe first direction, but snagging the trailing transverse edge partiallydefining the open space between the bags as the bag including theleading transverse edge partially defining said open space is pulled inthe first direction and releasing the last said bag only when it isdrawn between the bars in a second direction transverse to the firstdirection; (d) grasping the bag which includes said leading transverseedge and pulling the last said bag through the spacing between the barsand the snagging element in the first direction until the trailing edgedefining the open space of the next ensuing bag reaches the snaggingelement, whereupon further passage of said next ensuing bag will beinitially restrained; (e) further pulling the bag including said leadingedge against said restraint to where said bag is detached from the nextensuing bag; (f) pulling the next ensuing bag first in the seconddirection past the snagging element and then in the first directionuntil the trailing edge defining the open space between the last saidbag and following bag is snagged by the engaging element, and initiallyrestrained; and (g) repeating steps (e), (f) and (d) in that order forsubsequent bags in the series.
 6. The method as defined in claim 5wherein as second roll of bags is disposed adjacent and parallel to thefirst roll, a second pair of bars similar to the bars of claim 5 isprovided and disposed parallel to and spaced from the bars of claim 5,and the bags of the second roll are brought along a path closelyparallel to, but spaced from, the path of the first roll for snaggingand disposition in a manner identical to that of the first roll, wherebya clerk may select for utilization the bags from either roll.
 7. Themethod as defined in claim 6, wherein the path of the bags of the secondroll are passed above the path of the bags of the first roll where thesecond pair of bars is disposed.
 8. Rack means for dispensing separatelyfrom a roll of a series of T-shirt type plastic bags, each bag beingformed by a pair of facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides,the sides terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spacedfrom each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, atransverse open top extending between the straps below their upperedges, and each bag being detachably joined to two adjacent bags at itsopposite ends so that at one end the joinder is by the upper edges ofits bag straps, and at its other end the bag bottom is joined to theupper edges of the straps of the adjacent bag, said series of bags ofsaid roll being disposed concentrically about a first axis starting withthe top straps of the initial bag of the series, whereby the outermostportion of said roll comprises the bottom of the outermost bag of theroll and the leading portion of each ensuing bag comprises the bottom ofsaid ensuing bag, whereby each bag may be grasped and pulled by itsbottom for detachment from the next ensuing bag when the ensuing bag issufficiently restrained from movement following the preceding bag; saidrack comprising:(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkoutcounter, said cradle means being adapted to receive, and permit rotationof, said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about saidfirst axis; (b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis,said bars being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spacedfrom, but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner that abag being unrolled from said roll, may be passed through the spacingbetween the bars the first of said pair of bars being disposed parallelto and above the second of said bars, at least one of said first andsecond bars having extending from its central area a snagging element,whereby the panel portion of a bag, when the bag is pulled in a firstdirection, may be passed between the spacing between said bars and pastsaid snagging element until the bottom of the ensuing bag is interceptedby the snagging element and temporarily restrained, whereby, continuedpulling of the preceding bag against such restraint results indetachment of the top straps of the preceding bag from the bottom of theensuing bag, but the ensuing bag may be freed from such restraint bybeing pulled in a second direction transverse to the first direction. 9.Rack means for dispensing separately from a roll of a series of T-shirttype plastic bags, each bag being formed by a pair of facing panels,joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides terminating at their upperends in a pair of top straps spaced from each other, each strap having atransverse closed upper edge, a transverse open top extending betweenthe straps below their upper edges, and each bag being detachably joinedto two adjacent bags at its opposite ends so that at one end the joinderis by the upper edges of its bag straps, and at its other end the bagbottom is joined to the upper edges of the straps of the adjacent bag,and at each joinder is an open space defined by a portion of a bagbottom, the inner edges of the straps and the transverse open top of theadjacent bag, and series of bags of said roll being disposedconcentrically about a first axis, whereby when the bags are unrolledeach open space between adjacent bags will appear partially defined by aleading transverse edge of the preceding bag and a trailing transverseedge of the next ensuing bag, whereby each bag may be grasped and pulledfor detachment from the next ensuing bag when the ensuing bag issufficiently restrained from movement following the preceding bag; saidrack comprising:(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkoutcounter, said cradle means being adapted to receive, and permit rotationof, said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about saidfirst axis; (b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis,said bars being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spacedfrom, but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner that abag being unrolled from said roll, may be passed through the spacingbetween the bars, the first of said pair of bars being disposed parallelto and above the second of said bars, at least one of said first andsecond bars having extending from its central area a snagging element,whereby the panel portion of a bag when the bag is pulled in a firstdirection, may be passed between the spacing between said bars and pastsaid snagging element until the trailing transverse edge of the nextensuing bag partially defining the open space between the bags, as thebag including the leading transverse edge is pulled in the firstdirection, is intercepted by the snagging element and temporarilyrestrained, whereby, continued pulling of the preceding bag against suchrestraint results in detachment of the preceding bag from the ensuingbag, but the ensuing bag may be freed from such restraint by beingpulled in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
 10. Rackmeans as described in claim 9, wherein there is provided a second cradlemeans similar to the cradle means of claim 7, said second cradle meansbeing parallel to, and spaced from, the other said cradle means; asecond pair of bars similar to the pair of bars of claim 7 is alsoprovided adjacently parallel to, but spaced from, the last said bars,and a guide member is disposed between the second cradle means andsecond pair of bars, said guide means being parallel to both the secondcradle means and second pair of bars, and spaced from the path betweenthe other cradle means and other pair of bars, thereby to preventcontact between bags of the second roll and bags of the first roll asthe bags of both rolls are passed from their respective cradles to andthrough their respective pairs of bars. .Iadd.
 11. A method ofdispensing one at a time a plurality of merchandise bags detachablyjoined together in a series, at a cashier's or other packer's station,each bag being formed of a pair of facing panels, joined at theirbottoms and sides and having a top which is open at least for apredetermined extent intermediate its sides, each bag being detachablyat least partially joined to two adjacent bags along its top and bottomedges so that at least a portion of the top edge of one bag is attachedto the bottom edge of one adjacent bag, and the bottom edge of one saidbag is attached at least partially to the top edge of the other adjacentbag, and along each said edge joinder a central section is unattached toleave an opening; said method comprising:(a) rolling up said series ofbags concentrically about a first axis whereby when said bags areunrolled each open space between adjacent bags will appear defined bythe trailing transverse edge of the first bag and leading edge of thenext ensuing bag; (b) providing a support for the roll from whichsupport bags may be serially unrolled and detached; (c) providing a pairof bars spaced slightly apart from each other one bar above the other,said bars being parallel to the roll axis and disposed apart from and inline with the roll to allow a bag to be drawn through the spacingbetween the bars in a first direction of travel, at least one of saidbars being provided with a snagging element directed in a seconddirection transverse to said first direction of travel, said snaggingelement, however, permitting passage of the panel portions of each bagpast said snagging element in said first direction of travel, butsnagging the leading transverse edge partially defining the openingbetween the bags as the bag including the leading transverse edgepartially defining said opening is pulled in the first direction, andreleasing the last said bag only when it is drawn between the barsinitially in the second direction, and thereafter in the firstdirection; (d) grasping the outermost bag of the roll by its leadingtransverse edge and pulling the last said bag initially in the seconddirection and then immediately in the first direction through thespacing between the bars and snagging element until the leading edgedefining the opening between the bag so pulled and the next ensuing bagreaches the snagging element, whereupon further passage of the said nextensuing bag will be initially restrained by the projection of thesnagging element through the opening; (e) further pulling the bagincluding the trailing edge defining the last said opening against saidrestraint to where said bag is detached from the next ensuing bag alongthe joined edges; (f) pulling the next ensuing bag first in the seconddirection past the snagging element and then in the first direction,until the leading edge defining the opening between the last said bagand following bag is snagged by the engaging element, and initiallyrestrained; and (g) repeating steps (e), and (f) in that order forsubsequent bags in the series. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 12. Rack means fordispensing separately from a roll of a series of plastic merchandisebags, each bag being formed by a pair of facing panels, joined at theirbottoms and sides, the joinder of the panel bottoms forming a transversebottom edge, and the panel tops being brought together to form atransverse open upper edge, and each bag being detachably joined to twoadjacent bags at its opposite ends so that at one end the joinder is bythe transverse upper edge of the adjacent bag, and at each joinder is anopen space defined by a portion of the bottom edge of one bag and thetransverse open edge of the adjacent bag, said series of bags of saidroll being disposed concentrically about a first axis, whereby when thebags are unrolled each open space between adjacent bags will appearpartially defined by a trailing transverse edge of the preceding bag anda leading transverse edge of the next ensuing bag, whereby each bag maybe grasped and pulled for detachment from the next ensuing bag when theensuing bag is sufficient restrained from movement to follow thepreceding bag, said rack comprising:(a) cradle means securable in thevicinity of a checkout counter, said cradle means being adapted toreceive, and permit rotation of, said roll so that the bags on said rollmay be unrolled about said first axis; (b) a pair of bars disposedparallel to said first axis, said bars being spaced apart from eachother, and both bars being spaced from, but aligned with, said roll anddisposed in such a manner that a bag being unrolled from said roll, maybe passed through the spacing between the bars, the first of said pairof bars being disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, atleast one of said first and second bars having extending from itscentral area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag whenthe bag is pulled in a first direction, may be passed between thespacing between said bars and past said snagging element until theleading transverse edge of the next ensuing bag partially defining theopen space between the bags is intercepted by the snagging element andtemporarily restrained, whereby, continued pulling of the preceding bagagainst such restraint results in detachment of the preceding bag fromthe ensuing bag, but the ensuing bag may be freed from such restraint bybeing pulled in a second direction transverse to the first direction..Iaddend.